Finally...

here we are...

it has been a busy month! So many things are going on. As much as I love blogging about our life, it takes time (as all you bloggers know - or maybe it just takes me a long time). Anyway, we are back in action. I promise to update more often.

Brooklyn is now almost 16 months. At her 15 month well check appointment these were her stats:

weight - 22 lbs (30th percentile)

height - 29.25 inches (25th percentile)

head - 46.5 cm (50th percentile)

She is doing great and learning so much every day!

She is very exploratory. She loves to repeat actions over and over. She responds to questions by nodding yes or shaking her head no. She doesn't say no or yes yet, but it is fun to know that she is understanding what we are saying.

She loves to play outside and loves to play with her buckets. She loves to put water and dirt in them.

It was super hot this weekend and we brought the water table outside and filled it with water for the first time. It has been inside all winter filled with plastic balls, so this was a fun change.

saying "cheeeee"

loving the camera

enjoying the sun and warm weather

check out her first tattoo (we got it from the zoo). We would ask her "where is your butterfly?" and she would point to her arm. It was so cute!

Check out her new wagon (well it is not really new, but we finally put it together)

What a big girl!

trying to eat cereal out of a bowl for the first time

Brooklyn loves to climb up and go down the slide

Making dinner has been a challenge lately. As soon as I start cooking, Brooklyn wants to be held or eat. She pushes my legs and says uuuuu (up). It is so cute, but not feasible. So...we have broken down and starting allowing her to watch a Baby Einstein video (not every day of coarse, just in an absolute need). She loves the Baby MacDonald show. It is fun to watch her actually watch. We sure hope she is learning something, rather than making her hyperactive.

She loves to chill in her chair

Ryan decided to move her chair in front of the TV, now that is all she wants to do!

Happy Mother's Day!

I spent the first part of my second Mother's Day with my family in MN. I flew home that weekend to spend with my mom, dad, sister Katie, Mike, sister Amy, Anthony, and Jen, Nate, Daniel, and Andrea. I flew home for Katie's first Bridal shower. I decided to fly alone and leave Brooklyn with Ryan. I wanted to make sure I gave Katie all the attention she deserved. This summer is a big summer for her and I am SO excited for her (my baby sister) to get married!

The second part of the day (I got home around 2:00) was spent with my own family. We relaxed for the afternoon, went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, and then it was Brooklyn's bedtime. Very relaxing, but perfect! What could be better than spending quality time with my family. I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful daughter and a wonderful husband!

Check out Ryan's new way of mowing the lawn. Brooklyn loves it!

We have a new niece!

A huge congratulations to Jason and Holly and Graham as they welcomed their new addition to their family.

Estelle Robin Hoffe

Born on May 14th

Obviously Auntie Jen had to buy her a bow headband! What a beautiful little girl!

celebrating life!

Proud Auntie and Uncle

I look like a natural....

Proud Daddy and Big Brother Graham

So.......

The real reason that it has been awhile since I have blogged is.....







....................

.......Brooklyn is going to be a big sister!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep! We are overjoyed, a little shocked, but feel extremely blessed. We wanted our children close together. I am a little frightened to have 2 children under the age of 2, but I/we am/are up for the challenge.

To make a long story short, I went in for my annual Dr. appointment and we talked about what the plan would be (knowing I wanted to be a little more proactive this time around). I was put on some medicine to become a little more regular and to start a cycle. After 2 weeks of the cycle not starting, I was starting to wonder. I was starting to feel bloated and things were fitting a little tighter. I had this horrible taste in my mouth that I couldn't get rid of and I was peeing all the time. Ryan said, "you are so pregnant!" I didn't believe him, because some of the other signs I had the first time around, I didn't have this time around. So, after 3 weeks of no cycle starting, I decided to take a test. I had one test left....sure enough....POSITIVE!!!! I took it right away in the morning and thought (previously) about how I wanted to tell Ryan. I didn't have any fancy plan. I thought I would tell him the same way as I did the first time around (keeping the tradition). I ran out of the bathroom and he just knew....

The most difficult thing was not knowing how far I was. I made a Dr. appointment for 2 weeks later and found out on April 28th that I was 9 weeks!!!!!! WOW! We waited a few weeks to tell anyone (even our families, which was really hard)!

The hardest part about this whole pregnancy so far is that there is so many other wonderful celebrations and occasions happening in our families right now, that I have felt SO guilty and haven't been able to get excited about our wonderful news. Jason and Holly had a baby, my sister Amy is due June 10th and I didn't want to steal away her thunder of her first child, and my baby sister is getting married, which is SO exciting! So when I shared our news with my family (when I went home Mother's Day weekend), I burst into tears. My mom totally understood, but told me not to worry. It felt good to have everyone excited about baby #2! I still plan to keep things on the down low until after Katie's wedding, then it will be time to celebrate the arrival of baby #2!

So....when I am due?

Exactly the month I was hoping not to have a baby.....DECEMBER 1st!

What does that mean for me and teaching. My hope is to take off from Thanksgiving to spring break. I would love to take the rest of the year, but just can't.

I have been feeling much different this time around. I have this icky taste that I just can't get rid of. I had a acute gull bladder attack a few weeks ago which was not fun, I have been more nauseous, I have been very tired at night and going to bed shortly after Brooklyn (hence the lack of blogging) and I have been eating all the time (which I think is because I am trying to get the taste out of my mouth). Now that I am 13 weeks, I feel much more energized and motivated. They say that with the second, you "pop" much quicker and that is definitely the case for me. I feel huge already. As the day progresses, my belly gets bigger and bigger. Well, I think that is about it for now!

....now you are all up to date!